1. How good is Yahoo Answers for scientific questions?

Question

2. How accurate do you think the answers you are getting are?

3. Do you look for confirmation elsewhere, after picking a "best answer" to your questions?

In my opinion this is a very poor site for answering scientific questions. I've read some answers here that look well-informed but which are not based on any established scientific theory. I'm not suggesting that people shouldn't propose alternative explanations to the accepted ones, but they should make it clear that this is what they are doing.

I'm not claiming to know all the answers to this questions, but I can recognise when someone is contradicting the science taught in universities all over the world (I have a 1st class honours degree in theoretical physics)

I am not claiming that the theories taught at university are absolute truth, but I expect that most of the people asking questions here are expecting something more in line with the ideas of Albert Einstein and Richard Feynman than those of Mark McCutcheon or Gene Ray.

"you just need to keep reposting questions until you find the right answer"

If you asked the question in the first place then presumably you don't know the answer. How will you recognise the "right answer" without looking elsewhere?

Good point eyeonthescreen. But you are speaking as someone who knows how to do research. If you read something here that you haven't heard before, something from a field other than your own, you would know how to look into it further.

I get the feeling that for a lot of people who use this site - this is it. They come across a few people who seem to know what they're talking about and go away thinking they understand something.

You could say that's their problem, but a lot of these people are kids with no experience of learning science other than listening to what a teacher tell them.

I really just asked this question to alert some of them to the flaws I see with Yahoo Answers. If fine to discuss ideas with people as long as they don't take some things with a pinch of salt. Young people interested in science should read GOOD books about science.

I just want to make one thing clear:

I AM NOT CRITICIZING ANY QUESTIONS!

I would not tell people not to ask questions. They should ask, and it's great to see such an interest in science here.

My problem is with the ANSWERS, and how much faith some people may put in them.

Kirk M: "Heretical views are not rewarded unless they make a breakthrough application. Until then people will treat you the way heretics have always been treated - with bias and prejudice."

I think that people with views that differ from the usual ones should argue them as best they can. The important thing is that the people asking the questions be aware of the mix of answers they are getting. Some reflect "text book" science and some are alternative ideas. I think it would be hard for someone who is just coming to grips with scientific ideas to tell between the two on this site. If they're serious about learning they should look in multiple places to find their answers.

Thanks to everyone for discussing this.

Benjamin N: "Well thank you for your concern. Why don't you then apply your expertise and benefit both the genuine seekers and the cranks?"

I doubt that very many teachers of science post answers on this site. Good luck to those who do.

Imagine you are a teacher standing in a class room. The students are sitting looking up at you, and there are twenty other people standing behind you. A student asks,
"How could feathers and bowling balls possibly fall with the same accelleration?"
You answer.
Ten of the people behind you answer, saying similar things. Another one pipes up saying that feathers and bowling balls don't fall that way and starts describing his own theory of gravity. Another begins insulting Muslims. 5 more propose alternate theories, each claiming that they read these ideas "on the web". The student who asked the question then picks his favourite answer and everyone goes home.

It's a tiring way to try and explain things. I would imagine the "cranks" outnumber the...

...people who would teach accepted views. "Cranks" are generally happy to explain their ideas wherever they can because the usual means of scientific expression (for better or worse) are not easily accessible for them.

Answer 1

let me think about this one...

first, i avoid asking questions. i just answer questions.

second, those that give non-sense answers are just as likely to ask non-sense questions simply because of the preconceived ideas they have.

Answer 2

If you are looking for Feynman answers then read his books. You will get good grades and your head will be filled with good solid politically correct science.
If you want input from people who may have worked in the field and can tell you the numbers as we know them are plus or minus 10 percent you may get input worth researching and refining.
You may even get info that shows the emperor has no clothes and what is taught is in error. If you want a good grade you forget these but that is what creates pc science. We only publish what we accept as true and that is a weak science in reality.
Of course we are inundated with noise in a forum such as this but believe me when I tell you gold is where you find it and sometimes the most misinformed are food for thought and possible discovery or refinement of understanding.
I have noticed the politically correct are the most notorious in argueing the man and not the evidence when confronted with information contrary to the official catechism. That is terribly weak science.
I have Feynmans 3 volume set by the way and they are the best textbooks I have seen for a course in physics. That doesnt mean I dont have some heretical views. Heretical views are not rewarded unless they make a breakthrough application. Until then people will treat you the way heretics have always been treated - with bias and prejudice.

Answer 3

From my own experience (I only browse and answer Science and Home&Garden questions), the problem is that many good questions "drown" in a large number of really unnecessary ones (like the ever repeating time travel, and basic math homework).
I find myself wasting my time reading through the questions, and log off again after a few minutes. Maybe I'm not the only one....
That leaves the 24/7-at-the-computer people who just want to collect 2+2+2.... points, and their answers are accordingly.
I think Yahoo should not only give us the opportunity to reward the best answer, but also vote for the worst / blatetly wrong / totally useless answer (and deduct 20 points!)

Answer 4

Good question, and a mostly good discussion.

I didn't think this was MEANT to be an entertainment forum, but that is what it has become for many people. But besides being an entertainment forum, there are also people who treat it as a way to genuinely get information they are curious to know. Still others use it as a way to get answers to homework.

I think you have to look at each individual question, and you can tell whether the asker wants to be entertaining, get a serious answer, or just get homework help.

Regardless, there are a number of "points junkies" who will post phony or meaningless answers just to get the 2 points. If people weren't rewarded with points for meaningless answers, we'd probably get a lot less of them.

Thanks for instigating this discussion.

Answer 5

I think it is clear the Answers forum was established to entertain, not necessarily to teach. If askers learn something useful, all the better. If not, they were entertained. I, a Ph.D., find the Answers forum quite entertaining and sometimes I learn something.

Those answerers who cite sources, maybe not your sources, are the more believable answerers...just like any dissertation or thesis, citations are used to assuage the skeptics. But skeptics can persist even in the wake of sources if those cited sources are not the ones the skeptics were looking for.

Only the most naive asker would believe the answers are accurate enough to use as reference material. To be sure, there will be a few, but given the entertainment value for the vast majority, that is no reason to question the value of answers.yahoo.com.

Answer 6

I think its really a great approach... :)
You definetly can broaden up your knowledge not only by answering questions but also by looking at other peoples answers.

I really teaches you to look at a quesiton in many diferant ways, which I think is very good.... :)

It's true that some answers aren't good enough & some may not contain the answer you'd expected, but most of the time its becasue your question would be misleeding or might have so many ways to look at...

So I think basically every activity has its own pros & cons. But if the pros are more helpful to the people than that of the cons you'd better start it up..

For a good example take a look at your own QUESTION. & see how many differant answers you have got for that... :)

Answer 7

I usually do not ask questions on this forum, specifically because people have some dumb answers, and alot of the credible answers get swept away. I can tell you that I have answered many questions to the best of my knowledge, and have been chosen best answer several times. Question is: how do people know if my answer is correct? Generally, I try to be, but how do they know? Honestly, if you want an answer to a scientific question, it is best not to look on a publically viewed and participated forum. Look in Scientific Journals if available.

Answer 8

out of 10 only 3 will make sense. Depending upon the complication none may be true to all may be true.
Some factors
1) how the question is presented.

2) How new is the topic

Still the best source will be google search.

Some discussion here mau enhance what you know already

Answer 9

Only a complete idiot would look to Yahoo! Answers for scientific knowledge. The people who answer are not paid, are totally anonymous, and have no stake in the veracity of their answers. It should be considered "Entertainment only".

However, there are a good sized number of people who are smart and knowledgeable about their area of expertise. These men and women make this site worth reading.

Answer 10

Considering the fact anyone can submit answers and you have absolutely no way to verify their credentials, could it be reliable for scientific questions. Even 'Best Answer' votes are chosen by anyone who decides to vote.

If that's not enough, just look at the number of answer that don't even pretend to have a clue.

Answer 11

most of people may that include me answer to get into the other levels people also like to to be proud so i read a lot of answers in all categories and they said just yes or mm or i got other 2 points some of people had old information or from other countries so their answers may be irrational but u r free to give the points to the person who u like his answer and added his source and a web site